Later Mughals v1.c9.s1: Sec. 1.—The March from Agra to Dihli.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s1
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Sec. 1.—The March from Agra to Dihli.
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In the confusion and the darkness the Jats plundered impartially the baggage of both armies. No fitting resting-place for the Prince could be found, nothing but a dirty screen, all black from the smoke of cooking, and a small wooden platform. On this latter Farrukh-siyar seated himself and received the homage of his officers. It was not till three days afterwards that Sadullah Khan (son of Inayatullah Khan), who had been Jahandar Shah's Lord Steward, produced the late sovereign's duplicate set of tents, which owing to their erection within a walled garden, had escaped the plunderers. These were put up for Farrukh-siyar on the site of Jahandar Shah's encampment. [Warid, 148b.]
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Having spent the night of the battle (14th Zul Hijja, 11th January, 1713), in the small tent erected on the field, the next morning, after a formal enthronement, Farrukh-siyar offered up his thanksgiving at the shrine of Shah Mushtaq, and then marched one and a half *kos* to his camp. The Turani leaders, Chin Qilich Khan and Muhmmad Amin Khan Chin, with many others who had served in the army of Jahandar Shah, tendered their submission. Shariyat-ullah Khan (Ubaidullah) was also presented by Sayyid Abdullah Khan. Written orders were issued to Asad Khan and Muhammad Yar Khan at Dihli, and to many other subahdars, enjoining them to seize the fugitive Jahandar Shah wherever he might be found. At the end of the day His Majesty paid a visit to Husain Ali Khan who was confined to his tents by his wounds. After the battle was over, he had been found about midnight lying naked and insensible under a heap of the slain. When informed of the victory, new life was breathed into him. The following day, the 15th (12th January), the Emperor attended at the large mosque attached to Akbar's tomb at Bihishtabad Sikandra, and there heard the *khutba* read in his own name. More nobles and leaders now presented themselves. On this date Abdullah Khan brought in as a prisoner Azz-ud-din, who had been found hiding in the underground chambers of the mansion at Agra known as Dara Shukoh’s.* Public rumour asserted that Jahandar Shah and Zulfiqar Khan had gone to Dihli; the latter had been seen at Mathura on the way to that place.†
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† Kamwar 126, Ijad 100b, Warid 148a, Khafi Khan 724, 727.
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On the 17th (14th January), a move was made to the neighbourhood of Bagh Nur Manzil, also known as Bagh Dahra.‡ The stream of officers lately serving under Jahandar Shah continued to flow into the camp. As there was still great uncertainty about the future movements of Jahandar Shah, and a renewal of the struggle by Zulfiqar Khan was feared, it was thought advisable to take steps to secure possession of the capital as quickly as possible. Abdullah Khan was therefore invested with the usual dress of honour and despatched on this day (14th January, 1713), upon that service. With him went Chin Qilich Khan, Muhammad Amin Khan Chin, Hamid Khan, Jan Nisar Khan, Khwajam Quli Khan, Lutfullah Khan Sadiq, Turktaz Khan, and others. His orders were to attach all the property of the men belonging to the other side. An imperial rescript was also sent to Asad Khan by the hand of Ikhlas Khan. It was then Farrukh-siyar’s intention to follow as speedily as possible with the rest of his troops.§
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‡ Of this grove the only thing now left is a large well, which from its size is known as the well of the 52 water-bags (bawan lao ki kua)—Tarikh-i-Agra, Husaini Press, Fathgarh, p.
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§ Mirza Muhammad 150, 151; Kamwar 127; Ijad 104b; Khafi Khan, 727.
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On the 18th (15th January, 1713), another visit was paid to Husain Ali Khan. The 19th was passed at the Taj, where the tombs of Shah Jahan and his queen, Mumtaz-i-Mahal, were visited. The Government of Akbarabad was confirmed to Sayyid Amir Khan Tatthawi or Sindhi, (grandson of Qasim Khan Namakin).* The jizya, or poll-tax, was abolished after it had been levied for thirty-four years. On the 20th submissive letters were received from Asad Khan at Dihli, reporting the imprisonment of Jahandar Shah and the restraint placed on Zulfiqar Khan. As Farrukh-siyar could not trust Asad Khan, it was decided to await full reports from Abdullah Khan before any further action was taken. On the 22nd the Emperor attended the public prayers at the Great Mosque near the Chauk, or market-place, in the city of Agra, gold and silver coins being scattered on the way. The next day Abdullah Khan sent the good news from Dihli that Jahandar Shah had been made a prisoner and Zulfiqar Khan dissuaded from continuing his resistance. As there was no longer the same pressing necessity for haste, re-assuring letters were sent to Asad Khan, and a leisurely advance to Dihli was ordered by the usual stages.†
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∗ Yahya Khan, 121a, says that Azz-ud-din and his wife were captured in a grove near Agra, and that Farrukh-siyar ordered them to be kept prisoners. Kamraj’s story, 52a, is that they were found in a milk-seller’s house.
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²⁸ The site is three miles south of the fort, it is now within the cantonments, and is called Khawaspura (private letter from Mirza Wiqar Ali Beg, dated 20th February, 1893). The epithet Nur Manzil was given with reference to the Emperor Jahangir’s name, Nur-ud-din Muhammad, Masir-ul-umara, iii. 79.
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† For abolition of jizya, see B. M. No. 1690, fol. 163.
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On the 25th (22nd January, 1713), a start was made for Dihli, the first camp being near Sikandra. The other marches were, 27th Sarai Godraya, 1st Muharram Iradatnagar, 3rd a place near Sarai Azimabad, between Mathura (Islamabad) and Bindraban, 5th Siyai, 6th Shergarh, 8th Shahpur 9th Sultanpur, 11th near Fathpur, 12th near Qabulpur, 13th Ismailpur, 15th (10th February, 1713), a grove in Khizrabad, five miles south of Dihli city.‡
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∗ For this man, see Blochmann, Ain, 470, and Masir-ul-umara, iii.
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⁷⁴ The rock-salt plates and bottles from which he got his nickname are described in Anand Ram's Mirat-ul-istilah. For Amir Khan himself, see M. U., i. 303.
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‡ Kamwar Khan 127, 128; Ijad 105a; Khafi Khan, 728 and M. U. i. 318, say the army arrived on the 14th Muharram at Barahpula, which is 1¾ miles nearer the city (Carr Stephen, plate 1). Sarai Godraya, Iradatnagar and Shergarh, I have not traced. Mathura and Bindraban are well known. Siyai (Seyee) and Shahpur are on sheet No. 50, Sultanpur, Fathpur (F. Biloch), Qabulpur, and Ismailpur on sheet No. 49 of the Indian Atlas.